Apparatus for decorating the interior and improving the atmosphere of enclosures



Aug. 5, 19.41. R. LoEwY 7 2,251,706

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING THE INTERIOR AND IMPROVING THE ATMOSPHERE 0F ENCLOSURES Filed May 24, 1939 INVENTOR 0 Raymond Loewy Y /VM, fwd, may 84% A TTORNE Y5.

' Patented Aug. 5,1941

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING THE IN-l TERIOR AND MPEOVING THE ATMOS= PHERE F ENCLOSURES Raymond Loewy, New York, Na -Y., easier to Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Mich a co m ration oi Delaware Application Ma er, 1939, Serial No, 27am s Claims. (on. sa -14o) My present invention relates to comfort conditioning of an enclosure for human occupancy. Specifically, the invention comprises a means for creating a feeling of comfort for the occupants of gathering places, such as night clubs, ballrooms, hotel lobbies, and other enclosures, by

the use of artistic creations artistically arranged and spaced about the enclosure, such creations being wholly or partially chilled to a considerable extent whereby to cause radiation of heat thereto from the bodies of occupants of the enclosure, and which may be chilled to such an extent as to cause atmospheric moisture to condense thereon in the form of frost, thereby reducing the humidity. of the atmosphere and enhancing the appearance of the enclosure. It is contemplated that the invention heretofore described fication and the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout; in which Fig. 1 shows an enclosure constructed and arranged according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows a detail of an artistic creation.

In the drawing a section of a room having side walls such as walls i0 and H, a ceiling I 2, and a floor I! isdisclosed. The room is shown as being provided with an air conditioning system,

the system being conventionally set forth and preferably comprising a return air duct l5 drawing air from the room through louvers i6 arranged adjacent the floor i3. so as to cause a gentle movement of air through the lower portion of the room or the zone of occupancy. The

be used in an enclosure which may be air conditioned, although it is within the purview of my invention to omit the air conditioning system per se in cases where it may not be necessary to create a sufficient feeling of comfort.

A further object of my invention is "to create an artistic arrangement of natural appearing creations in an enclosure, so as to simulate the appearance of a natural scene, as by causing the artistic creations heretofore mentioned to assume the shape of trees, such as palm trees, the trunks or the trunks and leaves of which are'coated with frost as heretofore described.

A further object of my invention is to create an ensemble in an enclosure of artistically arranged objects such as palm trees, the trunks of which are chilled for the purposes heretofore described, and the leaves or fronds of which are made of relatively stiff fabric or other fibrous sheet mate'- rial whereby to simulate the appearance of the natural leaves or fronds of a palm tree, and which leaves or fronds are arranged within the upper reaches of the enclosure whereby to form an overhead canopy of leaves; in combination with an air conditioning system for the enclosure having horizontally directed outlets arranged system also preferably comprises a fresh air duct 26 whereby fresh air may be drawn into the room to keep the air fresh and pure, the room being provided with an outlet vent (not shown), or the walls permitting sufficient leakage to permit the influx of such fresh air. A mixing chamber I1 is connected to both ducts l5 and 26, and a blower l8 forces the mixed air through a duct IS in. which is mounted a conditioning coil 20 and which terminates in horizontally directed outlets 2| directing-the air horizontally into the ceiling zone through louvers 22. The coil 20 is shown as being connected to a conventional compressor-con'denser-evaporator system including the compressor 30, condenser. 3|, and expansion valve 32 which may be controlled by the usual valve motor 33 and superheat-responsive thermosystems may be utilized in actual constructions,

above or adjacent the leaves or fronds previously described whereby conditioned air projected horizontally into the ceiling zone of the enclosure will be deflected in many directions and thoroughly diffused with the room air before settlin to the zone of occupancy, in the course of which the conditioned air may wave and rustle the palm leaves or fronds whereby to simulate the appearance and sound of a natural palm forest.

, Having described the principalobjects of the present invention, the same should bemore fully understood from a study of the followingspeciit being only necessary that the air be tempered for human comfort and circulated in accordance with the standard principles of air conditioning. The air, of course, may consist of room air or fresh air alone, or a mixture of both, as controlled by dampers 35 and 36.

Within the enclosure there are shown a plurality of artistic creations 40, the artistic creations ,beingspaced about the enclosure in a convenient and artistic arrangement. Each creation preferably comprises a relatively tall body portion comprising a shell 4| having a relatively small diameter, so that the body portion does I not occupy much floor space and extends from,

or adjacent, the floor I3 to a point abovethe pom of occupancy and slightly below, or adiacent, the outlet louvers 22. Each artistic creation may also comprise a crown portion 42 surrounding and extending above the top of the.

body portion 40 toward the ceiling l2 and preferably extending below the top'of the body portion to a point such as to be above the heads of the tallest occupant of the enclosure. Each body portion shell 4| is preferablywhilled throughout its extent to such an extent as to cause radiation of heat thereto from the bodies of persons adjacent thereto. and still more preferably, chilled to such an extent as to cause the condensation of moisture thereon in the form of frost crystals and needles. may or may not be so chilled, but preferably the crown portion is not provided with chilling medium circulating means because the overhanging portions thereof might drip condensed moisture upon occupants of the room. Each crown portion preferably comprises a number of spaced, artistically formed I and arranged branches, fronds or arms.43, so positioned and formed as to break the horizontally*projected air streams issuing from the louvers 22 into a plurality of diverse streams whereby to cause thorough mixing of the conditioned air with room air rising from the zone of occupancy thus permitting only evenly tempered, comfortable air to reach the zone of occupancy on its way to the return air duct 5. r

In the present disclosure the artistic creations 40 are shown as simulating the appearance of palm trees, the body portions comprising shells 4| simulating the appearance ofpalm tree trunks, and the crowns 42 simulating the appearance of the crowns of' palm trees, which crowns comprise a plurality of fronds 43. It is to be appreciated that other artistic creations may be substituted therefor, some of which may assume the shape of statuary, and others of which may assume the shape of other types of trees, especially trees which would have long and relatively slender trunks and crowns of spreading branches adjacent the ceiling area; or the appearance of an arbor may be created by the use of body portions resembling the trunks of vines and crown portions resembling an overhanging canopy of vine branches.

, In order to chill the portions of the artistic creation which are to be chilled, I provide any convenient method of creating a sufficient temperature drop within the interior of the chilled .portions. The refrigeration apparatus forms no part of my present invention, and any person skilled in the art of refrigeration may supply the necessary knowledge with which to create the cooling effect.

The particular means, disclosed in the present application, whereby a cooling medium may be circulated within the artistic creations is the invention of Rafael A. Gonzalez. and full details thereof may be ascertained in his copen'ding a plication, Serial No. 275,441. filed concurrently herewith. In the present disclosure it may be seenthat the body portion shell 4| comprises a rigid, self-supporting structure within which is mounted an inlet pipe 50 extending from a source of cooling medium to a point adiacent the upper extremity of the shell. The pipe 50 may be braced by an inner, rigid. self-supporting shell 5| which achieves the dual purpose of supporting the pipe 50 and of forming an annular space 52 adjacent the interior of the shell 4|, thereby reducing the interior space to be filled with cooling medium. The cooling medium is admitted to the pipe 50 from a feeder pipe 55 extending from a pum 56 which draws the cooling medium from the refrigerating system through the suction inlet 57. The cooling medium rises to the upper, open end of pipe 50 and descends through the trunk of the artistic creation in the hollow space 52, from which it is ejected through an outlet pipe 58 connected to a return line 59 extending back to the refrigerating system com- Each crown portion prising brine cooler 60. In the present disclosure the cooling medium is preferably a brine, which may be an actual salt solution, or as the term is commonly used in the art, is preferably an organic compound capable of being lowered in temperature toa considerable extent below 0 F. without congealing.

The inlet to the cooler 60 and-the return line 59 are joined 'to a riser 55 opening into an open balance tank 66, the middle of which is on a level with the tops of the portions of the'artistic creations which are to be chilled as shown by the datum line 61, in order that the pump may work against a constant. headand maintain a constant flow through all of the artistic creations.

Each of the artistic creations is provided with.

a vent valve Ill located slightly above the datum line 61, which vent valve permits the escape of air from the annular space 52 to the atmosphere when the system is started in order that air trapped in the interiors of the artistic creations may be expelled.

Each of the body portions are thus filled with a circulating chilling medium which constantly traverses the inner surfaces of the outer shells 4|, thereby causing the body portions to be chilled to the extent desired by the operator of the system. If chilled to a certain extent below body temperature, the persons adjacent the body portions will sense a cooling efiect due to radiation of heat from themselves to the chilled surfaces. These persons may be walking about in the enclosure, dancing, or seated in chairs 15 at tables such as 16, which are illustrated for the purpose of demonstrating the preferred relative heights of the artistic creations. If the body portions are chilled to the necessary extent be-' low freezing, the humidity of the room atmosphere will be lowered by the condensation thereon of water vapor. Preferably the chilling.

medium is at such a temperature below the freezing temperature of water as to cause any moisture condensing thereon instantly to form into crystals or needles of white frost, thereby enhancing the appearance of the artistic creations and preventing moisture from running down the outer surfaces of the artistic creations.

.This frost will continue to form, thereby continually counteracting the uncomfortable effects of excessive humidity created by moisture given off by occupants of the enclosure. and continually maintaining attractive outer surfaces on the artistic creations.

Each artistic creation is preferably mounted in a floor well of sufficient depth to hide the base thereof and the outlet connections 58, which wells may be filled withloose gravel 8|, or other porous filler which will support the weight of persons walking thereover and which will permit the rapid fiow of water therethrough, in order that defrosting of the artistic creations may be accomplished without flooding the floor of the enclosure. Each well is provided with a drain connection 82 which connects with a drainage when desired by stopping the circulation of chilling medium therethrough.

The crowns 42 preferably extend to a region adjacent the conditioned air outlet louvers 22, in order that each of the fronds or branches ll may serve to break up the high velocity stream of air impinging against it and to create a multiplicity of eddies or conflicting air currents, thereby causing a thorough mixing of warm air rising from the zone of occupancy and cool air emitted from the conditioning system. The air which then falls through the zone of occupancy and is gently drawn toward the return air louvers I6 is mild and comfortable. In addition, if the leaf parts of the fronds or branches 3 are, as contemplated, made of a fabric capable of holding its shape to a considerable extent but yieldable enough so as to be disturbedby mild air currents, and if the connections of the fronds or branches to the body portion are, as contemplated, yieldable to such an extent as to permit waving of the entire branch or frond when deflected by mild air currents, a further pleasing effect will be achieved due to the rustling of the leaves and waving of the fronds when struck by the air streams issuing from the outlet louvers 22. This appearance may be enhanced by decorating the leaf surfaces, such as by causing a sprinkling of mica flakes to adhere thereto, in order thata glittering appearance will be created when lights are reflected therefrom during the fluttering of the leaves.

Having described a preferred form of my invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same permits of numerous modifications in arrangement, detail, and appearance. All such modifications as come within the scope of the following claims are considered a part of my invention.

I claim: '1. In an enclosure in which human being congregate, the improvement comprising the inclusion therein of an object locatedin the zone of occupancy and having a body portion extending from adjacent the floor level of the enclosure to a point above the zone of occupancy, said body portion being chilled to an extent suflicient to cause'the radiation of heat thereto from nearby human beings, and having a crown portion above the zone of occupancy comprising a plurality of separate branches, said branches being of a character such as to break up air streams into a plurality of divergent air currents; in combination with air conditioning means comprising an inlet duct directed toward said crown portion and means to propel an air stream through said inlet duct.

2. In an enclosure in'which human beings congregate, the improvement comprising the inclusion in said enclosure of a plurality of spaced artistic creations comprising body portions of relatively small diameter extending from near the floor of the enclosure to a point above the zone of occupancy, and crown portions simulating branches or fronds extending from the tops of said body portions in various directions above the zone of occupancy, at least said body portions comprising means for the interior circulation therethrough of a chilling medium; in combination with means for injecting a stream of air into said room adjacent and through said crown portions.

gregate, the improvement comprising the incluinto a plurality of divergent air currents; in

combination with air conditioning means comprising an inlet duct directed toward said crown portion and means to propel an air stream through said inlet duct.

3. In an enclosure in which human beings con- 4. In an enclosure in which human beings congregate, the improvement comprising the inclusion in said enclosure of a plurality of spaced artistic creations comprising body portions of relatively small diameter extending from near the floor of the enclosure to a point above the zone of occupancy, and crown portions simulating branches or fronds extending from the tops of said body portions in various directions above the zone of occupancy, at least said body portions comprising means for the interior circulation therethrough of a chilling medium; in combination'with means for causing a gentle withdrawal of air from said enclosure through the zone of occupancy and the injection of conditioned air into said enclosure adjacent said crown portions.

5. In an enclosure in which human beings congregate, the improvement comprising the inclusion therein of an object located in the zone of occupancy and having a body portion extending from adjacent the floor level of the enclosure to a point above the zone of occupancy, said body portion being chi lledto an extentsufllcient to cause the radiation of heat thereto from nearby human beings, and having a crown portion above the zone of occupancy comprising a plurality of separate branches, said branches being of a character such as to break up air streams into a plurality of divergent air currents and comprising leaf simulating members of stiff fabric; in combination with means for directing an air stream into-said room substantially horizontally through said crown portion.

6. In an enclosure in which human beingcongregate, the improvement comprising the inclusion therein of an object located in the zone of occupancy and having a body portion extending from adjacent the floor level of the enclosure to a point above the zone of occupancy, said body portion being chilled to an extent sufficient to cause the condensation of moisture thereon in the form of frost, and having acrown portion above the zone of occupancy comprising a plurality of separate branches, said branches being of a character such as to break up air streams into a plurality of divergent air currents and comprising leaf simulating member's carrying frost simulating particles on the surfaces thereof; in combination with means for directing an air stream into said room substantially horizontally through said crown portion.

'7. In an enclosure in which human being congregate, the improvement comprising the inclusion therein of an object located in the zone of occupancy and having a body portion extending cause the radiation of heat thereto from nearby human beings, and having a crown portion above the zone of occupancy comprising a plurality oi" 1 separate branches, said branches being of a character such as to break up air streams into a plurality of divergent air currents and comprising leaf simulating members of stiff fabric; in com- Y bination with means tor producing and projecting a stream of conditioned air into said room through said crown portion whereby said branches will break up said air stream into a v plurality of divergent currents for the purpose of commingling the conditioned air with the air in the room.

c 8. In 'an' enclosure in which human beings congregate, the improvement comprising the inclusion therein of an object located in the zone oroccupanc'y and having a bodyportion extending from adjacent the floor level of the enclosure to-a point above the zone of occupancy, said body above the zone of occupancy comprising a plurality of separate branches, said branches being of a character such as to break up air streams into 'a plurality of divergent air currents and comprising leaf simulating members carrying frost simulating particles on the surfaces thereof;

in combination with means for producing and projecting a stream of conditioned air into said room through said crown portion whereby said branches will break up said air stream into a plurality of divergent currents for the purpose of commingling the conditioned air with the air I in the room. Y

' RAYMOND LQEWY. 

